Our Build Life

Launched well.

by the Artist

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We celebrated the wedding of our Lead Carpenter Adam to his fiance Katie this past weekend. It was blustery cold. The wind was relentless. Not a good day for photos. But a great day to stay inside and enjoy the moments in warmth surrounded by family and friends.

Inside away from the wind and cold the venue was beautiful. A group of us designed the woodsy theme decor for the reception. It was great to be creative in another way. I ended up designing the bridal party bouquets and corsages. That was really fun (and some work) after so many years away from my floral design days. And I have to admit.. as the bride walked past me on her way up the aisle I was looking more at how well the bouquet matched her gown then anything else. Always the designer!

And now it's hard to believe Adam, who is our nephew, is now a married man. Seems like just yesterday he was helping the Carpenter on little projects around our house. And later very big projects! He has been mentored by the Carpenter as an uncle and as a craftsman. And along the way he went to school to learn the trade too. Adam has come far. He has learned well and upholds the Carpenter's high standards for homebuilding.

It will be interesting to see how he changes, with his new responsibilities and life change. We look forward to getting to know the married Adam. 

I thought after the day was over... Adam and Katie have been launched well into their new life together. Family and friends could not have been more supportive. There could not have been more love. Now it's up to them to establish their marriage. I hope they do that well. 

I know the Carpenter is a bit on edge this week with Adam away on his honeymoon. He hardly takes vacation and is rarely sick. He's always on the job. But while Adam is away the crew will carry on. We have a loaded spring schedule so there will be plenty for Adam to do when he returns!

 

 

Painting the apple...

by the Artist

I've not been feeling like writing much since the loss of our sweet Gracie. (our 13 year old lab) But I've been keeping occupied preparing for my first painted furniture sale for our new Applewood venture.."A Painted Apple". Full days are keeping both me and the Carpenter busy which helps fill the hole in our hearts. 

I've had a vision for an Applewood *chalk painted furniture line for about 3 years. I've shared the bumpy journey now and then on this blog. I started and then stopped. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I stepped into the abyss of creativity and didn't know what direction to take. Or even if I wanted to go in any direction. I was completely overwhelmed with possibility. I don't do well with too much possibility. I like boundaries. A piece of furniture? Well it could be many colors. 

But I'm here to say that I have been spending many hours in the cabinet shop in recent weeks distressing and waxing and lettering. It's getting easier for me. slightly. I'm not quitting. The Carpenter is helping me. We discovered that my formulated chalk paint goes through his commercial paint sprayer. Huge smile. 

I said I have been lettering. I love typography. Letters. Before there were computers I would do hand lettering for my graphic design projects. I am hand lettering on some of my pieces. I love the look. I've been collecting quotes and sayings. I pick a quote according to the piece. Now the furniture feels like me. Because not everyone who chalk paints.. and there are a ton of women out there doing this very well... hand letter. By that I mean I freehand write script and roman letters with a small paint brush. It's kind of nerve wracking because I can't mess up. I get one chance.

So come May 7th... you can come see my "one chance" pieces if you live in Minnesota! And if all goes according to plan I won't have a single piece left! Watch for updates here... http://www.applewoodremodelers.com/a-painted-apple/  

* Chalk paint is a very flat paint that you can write on with chalk.. like a chalkboard! There are many brands of chalk paint on the market. Annie Sloan being one. I create my own chalk paint using a formula of flat paint and Plaster of Paris. The advantage of painting with this type of paint is very minimal prep.. meaning you don't need to pre-sand. (You do need to sand lightly before you wax.) The prep is after because you need to seal the paint with wax after you distress the finish if you choose to do so. Done right you end up with a beautiful antique looking piece with a beautiful patina.

Our sweet snack manager.

by the Artist

We lost our sweet Snack Manager Gracie last week. She was a couple of months short of her 13th birthday. It would have been her "golden" birthday. Do dogs have golden birthdays? 

She came into our life at age 7 weeks. It was a bit of a rocky start. She was sick and we had never had a labrador puppy before. During the three weeks when I was still working full time and Gracie came to live with us... we didn't want to leave her alone all day. So she went with the Carpenter to work. I'm not so sure that was a good idea. She balked at loud sudden noises the rest of her life. But the neighborhood kids at that project loved her up.  

She was an independent dog. Not a snuggler. But she had the sweetest temperment of any dog we've owned. She loved humans and dogs. She particularly loved humans. We could trust her with anyone. She was very forgiving. One time a niece bicycled over her tail and Gracie didn't even flinch. She handled everything in stride and with dignity. She was always happy.

And that happiness lived in our home and greeted the Carpenter every evening. No matter what was going on in the business... Gracie was there offering her unconditional doggy love.

Along the way after I stepped into the marketing job for Applewood... Gracie got her own job title. Snack Manager. She loved that job. What lab wouldn't? She was our Applewood good-will ambassador. 

Now we have an open position. The Carpenter just confessed he's been researching lab puppies for a couple of years. He's ready to bring another puppy into our life. I am but I'm not. I think it's just too fresh. And it is a ton of work. And it is grief. But it is love. Life is short (and even more so now) and we only get this earthly life to share with a dog. No matter what people say, I'm not sure dogs will be in heaven. So I am considering.

Gracie has been a big part of Applewood. She will always be with us. In our hearts. That is what the Carpenter has always told me when we've lost a pet. 

So here's to the best sweetest labby girl.  

 
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Burning the midnight oil.

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by the Artist

The cabinet shop (where I work on my painted furniture in preparation for my May 7th sale) is off limits right now. The Carpenter has a massive window painting project going. All of the work tables are being used. Including "my" table. My furniture is covered up and not easy to get to. So I wait. And I watch.

It's been intense prep for the new windows for the Modern Farmhouse http://www.applewoodremodelers.com/recent-projects/ Project. He is using a paint sprayer. It works great, once everything is masked off. Then it's almost like flying with a tailwind. 

So he's back to long work days right now. During the day he runs many errands, spends time project managing at the job site, and meets with potential customers in the evening (so far two meetings this week). We're also running an ad for a new carpenter so he's handling those contacts. He ends his days in the shop painting till very late. He has a plan for painting the windows here and then transporting them as they are needed to the project. This will ensure they stay nice and safe. ...

(I started this post last night with intention to finish this morning. The Carpenter told me he wrote a post late last evening ..it came into my email at 1:50 AM! It made me smile as I read it. We wrote about the exact same subjects between this post and the previous! Great minds and married a long time people do think alike!)

from the Carpenter....

Better late then never! To all those wonderful birthday wishes from you that sent them, I say a big thank you! I really just checked in to the Facebook page right now and saw them. Good thing the Artist has a FB presence because I don’t. So again, thanks, oh and remember…Bobs your Uncle! (He’s my “Unca” too)

We continue to be as busy as we have been in a long time. Still trying to balance the employee search thing. We will see what happens. In the mean time, one of my guys is still on vacation enjoying the Arizona sun, another is getting ready to get married in 3 weeks. Man, my nephew getting married….The Artist told me I was getting old earlier tonight, I guess so, but I just finished another 16 hour day. Can an old guy do that? No way!

Yep, I’m in the shop late again. We are painting all the windows for the Modern Farmhouse Project ahead of time. It is very involved to do it correctly. We have stripped off all the hardware and weather stripping that is removable. Then we masked off with tape and masking paper. Monday night I was out there till 2am, tonight 1am. Its one of those things that when you get in the zone, its hard to stop and the hours slip by and before you know it it gets late. It’s a good thing my shop is now on the property where we live. Many years ago when we had our full time cabinetmaking and furniture building business, along with the remodeling, many many nights I would be there till midnight or later and then have to drive home about 18 miles. Not fun. Now I can just walk about 40 feet to the back door.

Tonight when I wrapped up, I went to the back yard and sat on a rock wall. Even though it was dark, I could still see out into our marsh. I just sat for a few minutes taking it in. Even in winter, well almost spring now, the marsh is alive. Geese were honking on the pond island; there were a couple of coyotes out there yipping at something, and two rabbits jumped out of the pile of firewood that is waiting for me to split. I have spent hours and hours over the last 18 years just enjoying what God has given us in the beautiful property we own. Its an acre and a half of work at times, but an acre and a half of "Heaven on Earth" most of the time.

Do you know what "Peepers" are? I can’t wait to announce to the Artist some night coming up very soon….The peepers are back! You will have to ask her, and I guarantee when you do, she will smile.

The Artist... I wrote about "Peepers" in the previous post. :)

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The story outside my kitchen window.

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by the Artist

I looked outside my kitchen window today and it struck me... how many times I've viewed the changing seasons of a marsh from that window.

Right now it wears a coat of brown and gold with some patches of white. In just a few weeks it will start to wake up. Tiny tiny blades of grass will start poking up through last season's gold. You won't even see the green unless you look close. Awakening blade by blade, leaf by leaf.

The first sign of spring for me has always been the spring "peepers". The Carpenter always announces to me when he hears those little frogs on that first balmy spring night. My Grandfather called them "peepers". 

As the temps warm the green grows and soon enough the marsh wears a fresh coat of green. By the 4th of July the marsh grass is nearly 5 feet tall. Summer storms create swirly flatten paths of grass. Almost like the wind left footprints in the grass while we slept.

Full summer the marsh wears a mature green. It is lush. life. 

By early fall the grass has seeded, the cattails have lifted their heads high. The green starts dying back. It shortens. The marsh takes on hints of gold. The fog hangs over.

By November it wears its golden coat again. The "peepers" have started their long winter's nap.

December's snows flatten the landscape. It wears its coat of white. Pheasants fly over and the deer make their winter trails. Another cycle is complete. 

I've watched this "story" for 19 seasons. All from my kitchen window. The same kitchen window that we moved to the back of the house so I could look out the window at the beautiful marsh as I worked in the kitchen. It was worth moving the window. It was worth moving the kitchen! Well maybe the Carpenter wouldn't agree.

 

late winter, early spring, summer, fall and winter.

Building a Dream.

by the Artist

We made it to print! Our local community magazine wrote an article about Applewood in their March 2016 issue. I wrote about the process in an earlier blog post you can check out here. http://www.applewoodremodelers.com/carpenterandtheartist-blog/?offset=1453426551889 I was excited but dreading just a bit the article as we had no control over content or photos. (Once an art director always an art director) It turned out pretty well. There was one bump in the road. They got our website address wrong. Maybe that is a little more then a bump!

Here is the link to the on-line version. http://whitebearlakemag.com/issue/march-2016-white-bear-lake-magazine. This link will take you to a "virtual" magazine where you can click through the entire magazine page by page. Click on March 2016 White Bear Lake Digital Edition. Or head here http://whitebearlakemag.com/building-dream to read just our article. Watch for a photo of me and the Carpenter in the top photo area that slides. Our article is called "Building a Dream".

Having an article written about us was a dream.

Don't wake me up!

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Circling back.

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by the Artist

I seem to be on a white theme these days. Snow and now the resurgence of white in home design. 18 years ago when we renovated our home I embraced white. It seemed appropriate for an East Coast style Cape Cod. We picked white siding and I painted the entire interior "Floral White". That was a lot of white. But it was so refreshing after looking at a dark brown exterior, gray gutted interior and most of all.. old house dirt and debris. It was one dirty dirty project.

We moved into our "brand new to us" pristinely white home. Not only were the walls white but all the doors, millwork and cabinetry and countertops wore white. It was a good choice till I got bit by the color bug. It was a nasty color bug because it left me weakened with the inability to make a single color decision. We had paint swatches of color all over the house. I think I had the Carpenter buy 10 cans of "gold" for the living room alone. I could not decide exactly which gold would be the perfect gold. And it had to be perfect. 

I got bit by that pesky bug at my friend's beautiful new home. She painted it in rich bold colors. Stepping into her home was like stepping into a bowl of Beef Bourguignon. My house was like stepping into a bowl of whipped cream. 

My main stumbling block to making a decision was my very own color rule. Colors are either gray based (rich yet subdued with a hint of gray) or clear based (pure bright color). You could not mix gray based and bright colors in one palatte. (this was my rule at the time) Which did I want? Which would be best for my little Cape Cod? Oh it was awful. Indecision is awful. It's like you just can't pull yourself out of the indecision pit. It has slippery walls and no ladder.

Eventually I broke through and chose a yellow for the kitchen. It was intense. I remember walking outside and looking in the window and thinking as the Carpenter was up on a ladder slaving away... okay that is just a might too too yellow. I lived with it. Never loved it. Add here... that poor long suffering carpenter.

Then I painted the kitchen a historical color cream. Ben Moore Waterbury Cream. Toned down that intense yellow. Better.

Then we moved out to live in one of the spec homes we built to stage it in hopes of finding a buyer. (BTW I was able to pick out the entire spec homes interior color palette in about 15 minutes!) During the time we lived at the spec home we painted the Cape the exact same color palette. It wasn't my first choice but I had to make a decision.

A year ago we were at the Carpenter's cousin's house. His wife has a great sense of design. She painted her living room pure white. I remember thinking... wow white. Why would she paint a room white? A year later... I get it. She was ahead of the trend. She was on point. And she knew to balance her white rooms with rooms of rich bold color. 

I've come full circle. They say what goes around comes around. Well white has returned. But it's an improved version of white. I've been highly influenced by the designer and HGTV host Joanna Gaines style https://magnoliamarket.com/. Just take a look and you will understand.

I'm redoing my home to embrace this new white. After the wedding flowers I'm doing for my nephew's upcoming spring wedding, after my furniture sale http://www.applewoodremodelers.com/a-painted-apple/

After. 

And I do love whipping cream.

 

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A beautiful mess.

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by the Artist

Last night the Carpenter walked into the room... he said... "how bad do I look?" I looked at him. He was covered in white globs. I am used to him "wearing" whatever he is working with- paint, sheetrock mud, saw dust, glue. Even if he is actually NOT hands on... he manages to connect with whatever substance is his general vicinity. My laundry effort is sometimes monumental. 

Then I asked... "okay.. now what happened?" He said.. "well I was exploring a new technique to touch up ceiling texture with the goal being to not have to re-texture an entire ceiling." This involved a plastic water bottle and an air compressor. 

He turned the compressor on and sheetrock mud shot out of the bottle and landed on the Carpenter and the ceiling and the front of the shop cabinets and many, many other places. I guess it was quite spectacular. And quite funny. Sorry I missed it. After a quick visit to the shop I've mandated a thorough clean-up.

 

 

Pork roasts and proposals.

by the Artist

This evening while the Carpenter was at a chiropractic appointment for our "Snack Manager".. yes there are animal chiropractors. I was proofing a proposal and making dinner at the same time. The Carpenter needed to get the proposal out pronto. So I was hustling and moving fast. Too fast. I tend to be a bit dangerous in the kitchen as it is... one trip to Urgent Care under my belt from a run-in with a cold pork roast years ago.

Who says history can't repeat itself? I had a pork roast in the oven. I was making a sauerkraut dish with apples (of course) and onions to accompany it. The metal can top didn't come off very nicely. I worked at working it lose and pop! it hit my finger. Not pretty. I thought.. oh no I don't have time for this! So I wrapped a paper towel around it and headed back to the computer to finish proofing. With one available hand. Sacrificing myself for the good of our business. Yes I am a drama queen.

I showed the Carpenter when he walked into the house with the Snack Manager. I knew he would be mad. He is always on me for being safe with sharp objects. He knows me. When he saw the wad of bloody paper towel wrapped around my finger he said... "oh no... I don't have time to take you to the ER I've got to get that proposal out!" Seriously he said that.

I said.. "I'm not going to the ER! You can do your "Carpenter" medical bandaging!" He's cut himself pretty seriously many times. He's used duct tape, gasoline, super glue, and has even let the Snack Manager lick his wound. Gross but true. I knew I was in good hands. 

After assessing that I was going to live... he bandaged my finger and we had a nice meal. And we got the proposal out.

 

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A lot of prep goes a long way!

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by the Artist

The Carpenter wrote about an upcoming project in his last post. He spent many hours last week and all this past weekend holed up in the "War Room", revising the architect's plans with final design tweaks. All I heard was the "creak and roll" of his office chair mingled with some Tina Turner and Meatloaf, and the hum of the space heater. It's been an intense process to be a part of and also to observe. He has had to chase down many many details and information for the entire scope of the project. Yes.. this is his job, I just haven't in the past paid quite so much attention!

We've had a number of design meetings prior to this past weekend for architectural exterior and interior details:  window style, millwork etc. And the Carpenter has headed back to the project to meet appraisers, engineers, subcontractors and a lead inspector. There is a whole lot of prep before "bags on!"

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege to attend the initial design meeting with the architect, homeowners and the Carpenter. It was the first time I've seen how the Carpenter interacts with an architect. He did "good". We covered a lot of ground. It was exhausting but exciting.

A week later we again found ourselves back at the project on a bitter cold Saturday morning. While the wind blew hard across the lake we tackled the windows... casement or double hung, grid style, placement, and exact measurements matched to a catalog. We taped off approximate interior locations. Where a window fits outside does not mean it lands well inside!

The Carpenter's prep work is almost complete. I need to get a new sign designed (and I want to update our logo first). This project has good exposure for potential future work. And I will be meeting with the homeowner to help with lighting and flooring decisions still. That will be the fun part!

I can't tell you how excited we are about this project. For me it's the new architectural style "modern farmhouse" the house will become- my personal favorite! I could not be happier. The Carpenter is excited because he loves reworking and updating older homes. This is his passion. He loves the challenge. The puzzle of it. He's in his element. And working by a lovely lake won't hurt either. Even though right now it's a frozen cube.